Copyright© 2000 by School Services of California, Inc.

December 8, 2000

Part-Time Faculty Compensation-State Budget Request

As you are probably aware, the Board of Governors has included a $75 million augmentation request for part-time faculty compensation in the 2001-02 State Budget. In an effort to secure the support of the Governor, the Chancellor's Office staff and various interest groups have been meeting with Department of Finance (DOF) officials to explain the program and hopefully secure their support. According to a recent memo on the subject by Chancellor Tom Nussbaum, DOF does not want to see a mandate or a system/state established standard that could be construed to create a mandate. Rather, DOF wants to know what cost is, and to assure those funds will be used to "close the gap" between what part-timer's earn. DOF also wants to allow districts some flexibility, with implementation occurring pursuant to collective bargaining.

Based on the discussions with DOF and the Secretary of Education, there is cautious optimism that some level of financial support may be included in the Governor's proposed State Budget for 2001-02. As a result, the Chancellor's Office has adjusted its proposal as follows:

• The Board of Governors reaffirms its policy finding no basis for differing pay schedules for full-time and part-time community college faculty members where in-class and out-of-class responsibilities are the same. In these instances the Board supports equal pay for equal work, and estimates that the total cost of closing the gap is $225 million in ongoing funds. The Board proposes a $75 million augmentation per year, over a period of three years.
  
• Participation in the program will be voluntary on the part of districts. Districts opting to participate will be eligible to receive an allocation based on their total FTES.
  
• Funding shall be used solely to close the percentage gap between compensation paid to full-time faculty and part-time faculty.
  
• Participating districts will be informed of their potential allocation. They will conduct local collective bargaining and report how they have agreed to use the funds solely to close the gap. The Chancellor's Office will release an eligible district's funds at P-1 (February) or P-2 (June), if the district has conducted collective bargaining and submitted the report which demonstrates how the district is using the funds solely to close the gap. If available funds are not totally allocated to districts during a given year, the Chancellor's Office will seek a carryover of funds, as authorized by law. Otherwise, normal rules regarding the reversion of funds to the State General Fund will occur, and districts not acting in a timely manner would lose eligibility for these funds.
  
• There is an agreement that in the first year every district will at least need their share of the first $75 million to "close the gap" in their respective districts. Once the gap is closed in a particular district, a decision has yet to be made on how funds would be made available to these districts in years two and three.

Conclusion

Keep in mind that the Governor Davis and prior administrations have vetoed budget augmentations for part-time faculty compensation. Only compensation for office hours and health benefits has been approved. The issue of part-time faculty compensation has become a major concern-numerous pieces of legislation have been introduced and the State Auditor's Office has conducted a study of the subject. Whether or not these concerns will translate into a $75 million budget augmentation remains to be seen.

--Arnold Bray